Counterpoise



July 3, 1923.

B. P. JOYC E COUNTERPOISE Filed Oct. 10 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventlilr July 3, 1923.

B. P. JOYCE COUNTERPOISE] Filed Oct. 10 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Invent n1" 1.460419 B. P. JOYCE COUNTERPOISE Filed Oct. 10 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 July 3, 1923.

K ELF a \\D 2 o/ NMMMMH 6 D D 9 QKWIIIII 4 s -MWMM W. H m HHHHHHH Patented July 3, 1923.

ITED STATES BRYAN P. JOYCE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COUNTEBPOISE.

Application filed October 10, 1921. Serial No. 506,920.

(FILED UNDER THE ACT 01* MARCH 8, 1883, 22 STAT. In. 625.)

. To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, BRYAN P. JOYCE, a citizen of the United States and a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented an Improvement in counterpoise,

of which the following is a-specification.

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any of its officers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The subject of this invention is a counterpoise intended for use with pivotally mount ed bodies but more especially for use with With the advent of aircraft in war it became necessary to so mount guns that they would be susceptible of high angles of elevation and, to accomplish this without unduly increasing the height of the mount it is essential that the trunnions or pivot point of the gun he moved from a position near the center of gravity of the gun to a point well to the rear thereof 'or near the breech. This is necessary in order that the breech may have suflicient clearance from the ground, when the gun is in high elevation to allow for loading of the gun and permit of recoil.

With a gun so constructed, especially in long modern guns, there is an enormous weight forward of the trunnions which must be raised and lowered as the gun is elevated 5 or depressed. In order that this weight may be moved without undue effort and with gearing of reasonable size, it becomes necessarv to introduce some method of balancing the weight, and for this purpose a counterpoise is designed. The present invention is devised to accomplish the objects set forth above by providing a simple and efficient pneumat1c counterpolse so mounted as always to mamtam a proper position with relation to the gun.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of suitable packing for the counterpoise.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without dc arting from the spirit of the invention.

ne practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, wherein:

' ig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a gun equipped with my counterpoise, the positions of the gun and counterpoise in elevation shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the counterpoise, partly in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the same;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line- 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through a fragment of the counterpoise, showing the details of packing;

Figs], 8, 9 and 10 are cross sections taken on the lines 7-7, 8-8, 99 and 10-10, re-

'spectively, of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

In carrying out my invention I prefer to construct the counterpoise of two main members, comprising a tubular casing A, headed at one end in which is telescopically mounted a tubular plunger B, headed at its outer end. The head of the plunger B is preferably formed with a boss H which provides one supporting member of the structure, as will be hereinafter described. Conveniently secured to the head of the cylinder B is a collar B to which is fastened, by rivets or otherwise, the rear end of the flexible casin C, herein shown as bellows like, the forward end of which is fastened to a screw cap A threaded on the open rear end of the casing A. The purpose of the flexible casing is to protect the surface f the plunger from dust or other foreign substances.

It will be understood that spaces G within the plunger and between the plun r walls and those of the casing is filled w1th fluid under pressure, conveniently air, and, in order to prevent the escape of this fluid, suitable packing must be interposed between the casing and the plunger. A preferred form of packing is shown herein and, while only one packing ring is illustrated it is evident that as many rings may be provided as members.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6; an annular shoulder is formed on the interior of the casing A against which rests a ring D formed with a forwardly projecting reduced portion D" for a purpose soon to be described. The ring is also provided with ducts or passage-ways D to permit the flow of lubricant therethrough. Abutting against the rear face of the ring D isa coiled spring I) which is confined between said ring and an annular flange formed on the sleeve D which is interposed between the spring and the plunger B to protect the polished surface of the plunger from being marred by the spring. The sleeve by preference extends between the ring D and the plunger as shown. The annularflange of the sleeve is provided with by-passes D to permit the passage of lubricant to the packing ring. A formed ring 1) contacts the rear face of the sleeve D and with this ring are assembled metal rings D embracing and protecting a rubber ring D and a leather ring D, which latter ring rests against the outer surface of the plunger and is forced into close contact therewith by the rubber ring when the packing is placed under pressure. The ring D has an annular groove in its inner face for the reception of the packing ring D", preferably formed of anti-friction metal, which rests against the surface of the plunger. Also assembled with the ring D are metal rings 1) which embrace and protect a rubber ring D resting against the inner surface of the casing A. In the rear of the ring D is a metal ring D which is keyed to the casing as shown to prevent the same from turning as the retaining nut is screwed home and so marring or injuring the rubber ring D. The retaining nut D is threaded into the rear end of the casing A and contacts with the ring 1) to hold the packing firmly in position. The ring D is counter-sunk and tapped for the reception of the metal ring D carrying a wiper or washer D the purpose of which is to prevent dust which may have accumulated upon the surface of the plunger from being drawn into this structure when the plunger is in its innermost position.

To properly lubricate and seal the packing, a chamber E is provided between the casing and the plunger and in this chamber is mounted. with a closing sliding fit, a

metal ring F 3 which is backed by a packing.

strip F held in place against the rear face of the ring by a metal ring F which is secured to the ring F by rivets or otherwise. Lubricant is forced into this chamber through the valve K causing the ring F to move to the forward end of the chamber and rest against an annular shoulder formed in the casing. The projecting reduced portion D of the ring D prevents ring F from moving to the rear 2. suflicient distance to block or foul the valve K. Lubricant from the chamber E will be forced through the ducts D and ay-passes D and will serve to properly lubricate the packing.

In the head of the casing A is mounted a valve L through which fluid under pressure is admitted to the space G.

Encircling the casing A is a band J from diametrically opposite portions of which extend the trunnions J.

The counterpoise is preferably mountedas follows:

The gun carriage M has formed thereon 2. lug N provided with a hemispherical sockst for the reception of the boss H. Crank arms, one of which is shown at Q, are rigidly secured to the extending end of the trunnion P of the gun S and these crank arms are apertured for the reception of the trunnions J of the counterpoise.

:Vith the gun in horizontal position the weight forward of trunnion P is sufficient to counterbalance the expansive force of the fluid in the space G of the ccunterpoise and, as the gun is elevated the expansive force of the fluid is exerted through the crank arms Q and the trunnions P to partially counterbalance the weight of the forward end of the gun and so render the elevation thereof comparatively easy.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of a gun and its carriage, the carriage provided with a lug having a hemispherical socket, a tubular plunger headed at one end, a boss formed on the head of the plunger and resting in the socket, a tubular casing in which the plunger telescopes, a connection between the gun and the caslng, a flexible casing inclosing the ex= truding end of the plunger and connected to the plunger and the tubular casing, packing between the plunger and the tubular casing, a sealing chamber adjacent the packing, an air chamber between the plunger and tubular casing, a ring movable in the sealing chamber for sealing the passage way between the air chamber and the sealing chamber, a valve for admitting lubricant to the sealin chamber, ring from blocking the valve and a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to the air chamber.

- 2. The combination with a gun and its carriage, the carriage provided with a socket, of a hollow plunger headed at one end, a boss formed on the head and resting in the socket, a hollow casing headed at one end into which the plunger telescopes, means for connectin the casing to the gun, packing between t e plunger and the casing, a sealing chamber adjacent the packing, an air chamber between the plunger and the casing,

iao

means for preventing the a. ring movable in the sealing chamber for sealing the passage-way between the cham bers, a valve for admitting lubricant to the sealin chamber, means for preventing the ring rom blocking the valve and a, valve for admitting fluid under pressure to the air chamber.

3. The combination with a pivotally mounted bod and its support, said support provided with a socket, of a hollow plunger headed at one end, a boss formed on the head and resting in the socket, a hollow casing into which the plunger telescopes, a connection between the casing and the body, packing between the plunger and the casing, a sealing chamber ad'acent the packing, means for admitting lu ricant to the chamber, an air chamber between the plunger and casing and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the air chamber.

4. A counterpoise, embodying a plunger, a casin into which the plunger telescopes, a flexible casing inclosing the extruding end of the plunger and connected to the plunger and casing, packing between the plunger and easing, a sealing chamber adjacent the packing, an air chamber between the plunger and casing, a ring movable in the sealing chamber for sealing the passage-way between the air chamber and the sealing chamber, a valve for admitting lubricant to the sealing chamber, means for preventing the ring from blocking the valve and a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to the air chamber.

5. A counterpoise, embodying a plunger, a easing into which the plunger telescopes, a packing between plunger and casing, a sealing chamber adjacent the packing, an air chamber between the plunger andcasing, a ring movable in the sealing chamher for sealing the passage-way between the chambers, a valve for admitting lubricant to the sealing chamber, means for preventing the ring from blocking the valve and a valve for admitting fluid under pressure to the air chamber.

6. A counterpoise, embodying a plunger, a casing into which the plunger telescopes, a packing between the plunger and casing, a sealing chamber adjacent the packing, means for admitting lubricant to the chamher, an air chamber between plunger and casing and means for admitting fluid under pressure to the air chamber.

BRYAN P. JOYCE. 

